Bolster



May 9, 1944-. 'A. H. oELKERs BOLSTER Filed June 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 www mm am d m .n w

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HOLSTER Filed June 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 9, 1944 BOLSTER Alfred H. Oelkers, New Braunfels, Tex., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 14, 1941, Serial No. 398,031

15 claims. (ol. 10s- 226) My invention relates to railway truck bolsters and more particularly to a fabricated bolster wherein Welding is reduced to a minimum.

My invention includes the fabrication of a bolster by welding together as in one modification a cast steel member and a rolled steel member; in another modification, two cast steel members; and in Va further modification, two rolled steel members; the purpose of such fabrication being to avoid complex foundry designs necessary for integrally cast bolsters and to consequently reduce their cost.

My invention comprehends a simply constructed bolster of reduced Weight which is capable of withstanding rigorous service conditions and conforms to manufacturing requirements.

Other objects of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specication, drawings, and claims.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a side elevation of one modification of a bolster embodying my novel invention, the left half being a sectiona1 view taken substantially in a vertical longitudinal plane bisecting the bolster as indicated by the line I-l of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the bolster shown in Figure 1, the left half being a bottom View and the right half being a top View.

Figure 3 is an end view, half in section, of the bolster shown in Figure 1, the left half being a section takensubstantially in the vertical transverse plane through the bolster end indicated by the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially in the vertical transverse plane indicated by the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, half in section, of another modification of my novel invention, the section being taken substantially in the vertical longitudinal plane indicated by the line 5 5 of Figure 6. Y

Figure 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 5, the left half being a bottom View and the right half being a top view.

Figure 7 is an end view of the bolster shown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken transversely through the center of the bolster as indicated by the line 8-8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of another modication of my novel bolster structure, the left half being a sectional view taken substantially in the longitudinal vertical plane indicated by the line 9--9 of Figure 10.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the bolster shown in Figure 9, the left half being a bottom View and the right half being a top view.

Figure 11 isA an end View',y half in section, of the bolster shown in Figure 9, the section being taken substantially in the vertical transverse plane extending through the bolster end as indicated by the line II-ll of Figure 10.

Figure 1'2 is a sectional View taken in the transverse vertical pla-ne extending through the center of the bolster as indicatedby the line |2--l2 of Figure 9.

In the modication shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the bolster generally indicated at 2 comprises a top compression member 4 of cast steel and a bottom tension member 6 of rolled steel. The compression member 4 includes a top web 8 with vertical longitudinal flanges lil, `I inte-4 grally formed along its opposite edges and defining a generally channel-like section. Adjacent to each end of the bolster is integrally formed a rectangular side bearing pocket l2 adapted to accommodate a side bearing of well known form. Beneath each side bearing I2 a transverse rib I4 extends between the flanges I9, IE! for reinforcement.

Adjacent to the center of the bolster the top web 8 flares slightly upward to merge with an annular flange I6 which defines the center bearing Il, said center bearing having a diameter slightly greater than. the Width of the top member @and projecting outward from opposite sides thereof with relatively thick reinforcing metal sections at I8, I8` integrally formed with adjacent portions of the anges l0, ID. The center bearing Il is also reinforced by spaced trans. verse vertical ribs 20, 2i) extending between the depending flanges Ill, It'. A central tubular 'por'- tion 22 in the center bearing I1 defines an opening 24 adapted to receive an associated king pin (not shown) and merging with said tubular portion 22 are aligned transverse vertical webs 26, 26 and aligned longitudinal reinforcing webs 28, 28, said longitudinal webs 28, 28 also merging with the spaced transverse ribs 29, 20.

The bottom member (i is formed of a substan tially flat rolled steel beam having its longitudinal edgesformed with thickened metal sections as at 39, 39. Extending between the top member 4 and the bottom member 6 beneath the center bearing are longitudinal side plates 32, 32 which are welded at 34,- 34 to the adjacent edges of the flanges I0, I9 and which are also welded along an arcuate line asat 36, 35 to the bottom member 6. Each side plate 32 is centrally notched along its upper edge as at 38 to aiTOrd bearing for a transverse horizontal bar 48 extending between the said plates 32, 32 and welded thereto at 42, 42. Beneath the center bearing, the bottom member 8 may be afforded an opening 43 for drainage.

The bottom member 6 extends diagonally upward from its central portion and is welded at 44, 44 along complementary diagonal edges of the end portions of the flanges I8, I8 on the top member 4. outwardly of each side bearing |2, the web 8 of the top member tapers slightly downward as at 46 and is alforded at its extremity a transverse beaded portion which abuts the adjacent diagonal portion of the bottom member 8 and which may be welded thereto at 48. Each end of the bottom member projects somewhat beyond the welding at 48 and is bent over as at 58 and terminates in a transverse vertical portion 52. A substantially horizontal plate 58 is welded adjacent to its outer end to the bottom edge of the vertical portion 52 as at 82 and at its inner end at 88 to the adjacent diagonal por tion of the bottom member 6 at a point approximately beneath the outer extremity of the side bearing l2 to afford a spring seat. Centrally of the bolster end a vertical reinforcing rib 58 is welded at 54 to the adjacent diagonal portion of the bottom member 8. The rib 58 is also welded to said plate 58 as at 84.

On opposite sides of each bolster end, column guides 88, 88 of any suitable form may be welded to the adjacent portions of the top Imember at 88, '88, to the vertical portions 52, 52 as at 18, 18, and to the spring plate 58 as at 12, 12. It may be noted that the top member 4 terminates approximately on the transverse center line of the spring plate 58.

In the modification shown in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive the bolster is formed by top and bottom members each being of cast steel. The top compression member 82 comprises a top web 84 extending between and joining spaced longitudinal depending flanges 88, -88 and having adjacent to each end a side bearing pad 88. The top web 84 merges in a slightly upward flared portion with the annular flange 80 defining the center bearing 9| of the bolster, said center bearing extending slightly beyond opposite sides of the top member 82 and having relatively thick metal sections at 82,r 82 for reinforcement. At the center of the center bearing is a vertical tubular portion 94 which is adapted to accommodate an associated king pin (not shown). Beneath the center bearing and aligned approximately with diametrically opposite portions of the annular ange 88 are formed transverse vertical ribs 98, 86 which extend between the longitudinal vertical flanges 88, 88. Intermediate said transverse ribs 88, 88 are integrally formed aligned transverse ribs 98, 98 which merge with the tubular portion 94 and the flanges 88, 85.

Between the longitudinal flanges 88, 88 and parallel therewith are formed the spaced longitudinal ribs |88, |88 which extend continuously through the tubular portion 94' and which merge at op- Dosite ends beneath the outer extremities of the side bearing plates 88, 88 in generally arcuate portions as at |82, |82. Extending outwardly from each arcuate portion |82 is a single central Vertical flange |84 which terminates at the extremity of the bolster. It may be noted that the depth of each longitudinal rib |88 is a minimum at a point spaced slightly outward from the adjacent transverse reinforcing rib 98 and gradually increases in depth to a maximum at its mergence 76 with the central vertical rib |84. The top web 84 is afforded a slightly diagonal portion outward of the side bearing plate 88 as at |88 and terminates in a horizontal portion at |88 which is afforded lightening openings i8, ||8. The vertical central rib |84 is also afforded an opening ||2 to lighten the casting.

The bottom member ||4 may be formed of generally U-section having a central horizontal portion ||8 and diagonal upwardly directed portions ||8, ||8 which terminate in horizontal end portions |20, |20 affording on their bottom surfaces spring seats and having downwardly directed inboard and outboard spaced lugs |22, |22 affording retaining means for associated shimming means or a spring group. The side walls |24, |24 of the bottom member ||4 are afforded substantially horizontal longitudinal edges for abutment with the aligned complementary horizontal edges of the depending longitudinal flanges 86, 88 on the top member 82. The top member and bottom member are continuously welded along said horizontal abutting edges as at |28, |26, and it may be noted that said continuous welding is interrupted at spaced intervals by the openings |28, |28 formed in the adjacent portions of the Vertical flanges 88, 88 and the side Walls |24, |24, said openings serving to further lighten the casting. At each end of the bolster, guide portions |35, |38 may be welded to its opposite sides as at |32, |32.

It Will thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that in this modification I have designed a bolster in which the top and bottom members may be cast separately Without the necessity of intricate foundry designs and which may be united by a minimum of welding with said welding being arranged along convenient accessible portions of the bolster.

In the modification shown in Figures 9 to 12 inclusive I have shown a bolster which may be formed of two standard rolled steel sections. The top member |38 comprises a standard channelsection with depending vertical flanges |48, |48 and an intervening top web |42. The ybottom member |44 is likewise formed of a standard channel-section comprising a bottom web |48 with spaced upstanding longitudinal flanges |48, |48. The top member |38 may be given a slightly positive camber, and the bottom member |44 is bent at the central portion where it is spaced a maximum from the top member |88 to afford diagonal portions 58, 58 which terminate in substantially horizontal portions |52, |52 with the web |48 affording on its bottom surface spring seats at opposite ends of the bolster. The end portions of the depending flanges |48, |48 are relieved as at |54, |54 to afford edges for complementary abutment with the adjacent edges on flanges |48, |48 of the tension member |44. The abutting edges of the relieved portions of the flanges |48, |48 and the upstanding flanges |48, |48 may be welded as at |58, |58. A central vertical rib |51 is welded as at; |58 to the top web |42 and to the bottom web |58 at each end of the bolster and serves as a reinforcement therefor. Inboard and outboard lugs |68, |88 may be formed in the bottom web |48 to afford retaining means for associated shimming means or a spring group. On opposite sides of each bolster end, column guides |82, |82 may be welded to the top member and the bottom member as at |84, |84.

A center bearing is afforded by the center bearing plate |88 having an annular ange |88 therearound and a central stud |18 formed on the bottom surface of the plate |88 and accommodated within the central opening |12 formed in the top web |42 of the top compression member. An opening |14 extends through the center bearing plate |66 for reception of an associated king pin (not shown). The center bearing plate |66 is secured to the top member by welding to the top web |42 as at |16, |16 and by welding of the depending lugs |18, |18 formed at opposite sides of the bolster to the longitudinal flanges |40, |40 as at |80, |80.

Beneath the center bearing plate |66 and extending between the top member |38 and the bottom member |44 is an integral reinforcing casting |82 comprising spaced bottom walls |84, |84 presenting arcuate bottom surfaces for complementary engagement as at |88, |86 with the bottom web |46 of the tension member. A top wall |88 of slightly greater length than the bot` tom wall |84 may be welded as at |90, |90 at its opposite ends to the top web |42. Extending between said top wall |88 and the bottom wall |84 are spaced vertical longitudinal outer walls |92, |92 and spaced intermediate vertical walls |94, |94, said walls having opposite vertical concave edges as at |96, |96. The outer longitudinal walls |92, |92 are offset at their top and bottom as at |98, |98 to accommodate the spaced flanges |40, |40 and |48, |43 on the top and bottom members respectively. Extending between each outer longitudinal wall |92 and inner wall |94 is a vertical transverse web 280 which forms with Y the adjacent vertical walls a substantially H section. The inner walls |94, |94 are joined intermediate their ends by a tubular portion 202 formed integrally with said walls and accom- I modating the lower end of the 4associated king pin, said tubular portion 202 being vertically aligned with the opening |14 in the center bearing plate |66. Beneath the tubular portion 202 the spaced inner walls |94, |94 may be joined by a transverse tie 206, said tie 296 being spaced from the web of the tension member |44 to permit drainage through the central opening 208 in the bottom web |49.

.It may be noted that the reinforcing casting |82 is substantially formed of two H section portions joined by a topwall and the intermediate tubular portion 282 of the transverse tie 206. The reinforcing casting |82 is securely positioned by the welding at |90, |90 to the top member and by the arcuate complementary engagement of its bottom wall with the tension member and the arcuate engagement at 204 of the offset portions of the outer longitudinal walls |92, |92 with the upstanding longitudinal flanges |48, |48 on the bottom member.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. LA bolster comprising a top member of U- section having depending ilanges and presenting a center bearing and side bearings, transverse ribs extending between said flanges beneath said bearings, said flanges being tapered at opposite ends of the bolster, a bottom member comprising a beam with thickened longitudinal edges welded adjacent to its ends to the tapered ends of said flanges, each end portion of said bottom member extending beyond the extremities of said top member and terminated in a vertical portion. a substantially horizontal plate welded to said vertical portion and to an intermediate portion of said bottom member to aiord a spring seat, side plates welded to said top and bottom members beneath said center bearing, a tie welded between said side plates, and column guides at opposite ends of the bolster welded to said top and bottom members and to said horizontal plates.

2. A bolster comprising a top member of U- section having depending flanges and presenting a center bearing and side bearings, transverse ribs extending between said flanges beneath said bearings, said flanges being tapered at opposite ends of the bolster, a bottom member comprising a beam with thickened longitudinal edges welded adjacent to its ends to the tapered ends of said flanges, each end portion of said bottom member extending beyond the extremities of said top member and terminated in a `vertical portion, a substantially horizontal plate welded to said vertical portion and to an intermediate portion of said bottom member to aiord a spring seat, and side plates welded to said top and bottom members beneath said center bearing.

3. A bolster comprising a top member of ,U- section having depending ilanges and presenting a center bearing and side bearings, transverse ribs extending between said flanges beneath said bearings, said flanges being tapered at opposite ends of the bolster, a bottom member comprising a beam with thickened longitudinal edges welded adjacent to its ends to the tapered ends of said flanges, each end portion of said bottom member extending beyond the extremities of said top member and terminated in a vertical portion, a substantially horizontal plate welded to said vertical portion andto an intermediate portion of said bottom member to afford a spring seat, side plates welded to said top and bottom members beneath said center bearing, and a tie Welded between said side plates.

4. A bolster for railway car trucks comprising a cast steel compression member having a top web and downwardly directed longitudinal flanges, a rolled steel tension member comprising a ilat beam with thickened edges, side plates welded between said flanges and said tension member at the central portion of said bolster, each end of said tension member being secured to the adjacent end of said compression member and terminating beyond the end of said compression member in a vertical portion, a substantially hori zontal spring plate secured to each vertical portion and an adjacent portion of the tension member, and column guides secured to opposite sides of each bolster end.

5. A railway bolster comprising a compression member having veitical longitudinal flanges and an intervening top web, a tension member with thickened edges spaced a maximum from said compression member at the central portion of the bolster and extending diagonally upward and welded to ends of said compression member, said tension member extending beyond said ends and terminating in a downwardly directed vertical portion, a substantially horizontal spring plate welded to each vertical portion and an adjacent portion of the tension member, a central vertical rib welded between said plate and said tension member, and column guides welded to each bolster end.

6. A bolster comprising a top compression member, a bottom tension member including a flat beam with thickened edges extending diagonally upward from its center portion for welding at its ends with the extremities of said top compression member and terminating outwardly of said extremities in downwardly directed vertical portions, a horizontal plate welded to each Vertical portion and an adjacent diagonal portion of the *tension member, column guides welded to adjacent portions of the top compression member,

- bottom tension member, and horizontal plate, and

member and terminating outwardly of said extremities in downwardly directed vertical portions, a horizontal plate Welded to each vertical portionand an adjacent diagonal portion of the tension member, and column guides welded to adjacent portions of the top compression member,

bottom tension member, and horizontal plate.

8. In a fabricated bolster, tension and compression members welded to each other at opposite ends thereof,` a spring plate at each end of the bolster welded to said tension member, .f

and column guides welded to said members and said plates.

9. In a fabricated bolster, a compression member comprising a horizontal web and spaced depending legs, a tension member in the form of y; a at beam extending diagonally upwardly from its central portion and joined to said legs, said tension member comprising downwardly directed end portions, substantially horizontal spring plates secured to the bottom edges of said end portions and to the. diagonal portions of said tension member, and column guides welded to both of said members and said plates.

10. In a fabricated bolster, a compression member, a tension member welded thereto and comprising downwardly directed substantially vertical end portions, a substantially horizontal spring plate welded to said tension member and to the bottom edge of each end portion, and column guides welded to said plates and said members.

l1. In a fabricated bolster, a compression member, a tension member joined thereto and comprising downwardly directed end portions, substantially horizontal at spring plates secured to said tension member and to said end portions, and column guides welded to both of said members and said plates.

12. In a bolster of truss type, tension and compression members, said tension member having downwardly directed end portions, a substantially horizontal at spring plate portion on said tension member extending between the bottom of each end portion and a portion of said tension member adjacent thereto, and column guides welded to each spring plate portion and to adjacent portions of said members.

13. A bolster comprising a top member, a bottom member including a dat beam extending diagonally upward from its center portion for welding at its ends with the extremities of said top member and terminating outwardly of said extremities in downwardly directed portions, a substantially horizontal flat plate welded to the bottorn of each downwardly directed portion and an adjacent diagonal portion of the bottom member, and column guides welded to both of said members and said plates.

14. A bolster comprising a compression member, a tension member including a flat beam extending diagonally from its center portion for welding adjacent its ends with the extremities of said compression member and terminating outwardly of said extremities in downwardly directed portions, a spring plate welded to the bottom edge of each downwardly directed portion and an adjacent diagonal portion of the tension member, and column guides welded to each plate and adjacent portions of said members.

15. A bolster comprising a compression member, a tension member including a at beam extending diagonally from its center portion for welding adjacent its ends with the extremities of said compression member and terminating outwardly of said extremities in downwardly directed portions, a substantially horizontal fiat spring plate welded to the bottom edge cf each downwardly directed portion and an adjacent diagonal portion of the tension member, and a substan.- tially vertical reinforcing web welded to the top of each plate and to an adjacent diagonal portion of the tension member.

ALFRED H. OELKERS. 

